TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (Nov. 13, 2009) - The ETSU men's cross country team will put everything on the line on Saturday morning, when the Bucs face the difficult test in competing at the 2009 NCAA South Regional, located at the Harry Pritchett Running Park.

The Bucs, who are coming off a second-place finish at the 2009 Atlantic Sun Championships two weeks ago, will race on the 10,000m course at 11 a.m.

A year ago, ETSU finished seventh at the regional meet, as Ben Ronoh (Sotik, Kenya) and Michael Deren (Blasdell, N.Y.) were named to the all-regional team after placing in the top-25.

Senior Kenneth Rotich (Nairobi, Kenya) claimed his second straight individual Atlantic Sun Runner of the Year title two weeks ago, and looks to finish his ETSU cross country career out on a high note. The Kenyan sensation has tallied seven first-place finishes in his four-year career with the Bucs, and is only one of sixth ETSU student-athletes to win multiple conference championships.

The top two teams at each regional championship meet automatically qualify for the championship meet. Thirteen at-large teams will be selected by the NCAA Division I track and field subcommittee. In addition, from each NCAA regional meet, the first four student-athletes not on a qualifying team will be automatic qualifiers to the NCAA championship meet.